Showing 17 results

Event Date : Wednesday, May 06, 1953
Event Type : Death

Description : In the passing of William Curry last Wednesday morning, May 6, Bradford lost one of its oldest and most respected citizens. Hospitalized since last February, his condition grew steadily worse, until death came as a result of heart failure. Mr. Curry was born on the 13th Concession of West Gwillimbury, on the farm now occupied by Mr. W. J. Dales, and lived there as a boy, attending Steele's Corner school. The family moved to a farm in St. Vincent Township, near Meaford, for a few years and then returned to West Gwillimbury to the farm now occupied by Mr. Ernest Kneeshaw. It is interesting to note that Mr. Curry's grandfather, John Curry, occupied the farm on the south side of the 13th, opposite the W. J. Dales' farm during Wm. Curry's youth, and the barn which he used is still being used. This means that this building is at least 150 years old. When a young man, Mr. Curry came to Bradford and learned the carpentry trade with his brother, John Curry. He married Matilda Archer and lived in Bradford for the balance of his life. An industrious and conscientious man, he built many homes and buildings in this vicinity, among them being the local hockey arena, known at that time as the Marathon Rink. He lived a quiet life, his chief interests being his home and his work. He was a Presbyterian by faith, and for some years was a member of the local Masonic Lodge. He is survived by one brother, George of Bradford; one daughter, Jessie (Mrs. A. B. Gardiner) of Meaford, Ont., and a son, Harvey, of Bradford. His wife predeceased him in February of 1952, and an infant daughter, Gladys, died at the age of 14 months. The funeral service, which was held from his late residence on Holland Street, on Friday last, was conducted by Rev. John McGillivray of Bonar Presbyterian Church, Toronto. The pallbearers were friends and relatives of the family: Chas. Evans, Bradford; Brock Evans, Bradford; Arthur Fell, Bradford; Alex Spence, Bradford; George Stoddart, Toronto, and Russell Lowery, Stroud. Interment took place at St. Paul's Cemetery, Coulson's Hill.

Event Date : Friday, December 04, 1964
Event Type : Death

Description : A resident of West Gwillimbury Township since childhood, Mr. Frank L. Brown did not rally from a heart seizure after his return home from attending a meeting held by the congregation of Bradford United Church on the evening of Wednesday, December 2. He was moved to York County Hospital where he passed away on Friday, December 4, at the age of 79. Mr. Brown was born in Whitchurch Township, York County, coming to West Gwillimbury in boyhood. He attended White Rose School in Whitchurch Township and later Mount Pleasant School in West Gwillimbury and there began his life as a farmer, on Concession 10, later in 1931, purchasing the farm on Concession 5, in the Scotch Settlement, where he spent the rest of his life. In 1931 Mr. Brown married Agnes May Patience, in Toronto, who survives him, with their two sons, George and Stanley, both of R.R. 1, Bradford. Also surviving are two brothers, Walter E. Brown and Harry W. Brown, both of R.R. 2, Bradford, and two sisters, Ella (Mrs. Wesley Adair) of Newmarket and Jessie (Mrs. Ivan Metcalfe) of Bradford. He was predeceased by a daughter, Frances, and three sisters. Mr. Brown was a devout member of Bradford United Church and had been an elder of that church for the past twenty-three years. The funeral was held from the church on Monday, December 7, with interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Rev. D. J. Lute conducted the services. The pallbearers were Murray Faris, Walter Lloyd, Clarence Brown, Lorne Metcalfe, Chas. T. S. Evans and Thos. Gardner.

Event Date : Friday, December 20, 1963
Event Type : Death

Description : Rev. F. G. MacTavish passed away in York County Hospital, Newmarket, on December 20, 1963, following two days of illness. He was suddenly stricken late Tuesday evening while chatting in his home and immediately lost consciousness, remaining unconscious to the last. Mr. MacTavish was born at Ripley, Ontario, and attended public and high school in that village. At the age of 18 he enlisted for military service during the First Great War and served in Canada and Siberia. Returning after the war he entered Victoria College to study for the ministry. On April 28, 1921, at Creswell, Ontario, he married Mary Annetta MacDonald of Toronto. Upon graduation from Victoria College the first church appointments given Mr. MacTavish were to missions in north-eastern Ontario, first at Wilberforce and then at Apsley. His next churches were Hallowell Circuit, Prince Edward County, then Northport and Seymour Circuit, Campbellford. Omemee and Sunderland followed before he came to Bradford on June 28, 1944, bringing with him his wife and family, his daughter Jean, and two sons, Harold and Gerald. Mr. MacTavish's interest in and knowledge of, the people of this district, those associated with his church and those without church affiliation, had grown through the years and his kindly understanding of human frailties, made him a sympathetic friend to all in trouble, and only by accident did anyone learn of the many, many services he rendered, far beyond the call of his duty as minister to the United Churches in Bradford and Holland Landing. The sick, the poor, the aged, the neglected and even those who might be regarded as rather disreputable, if they needed a minister, could depend upon Mr. MacTavish to answer their need. He was a tireless worker for the church, attending to much of its business personally. He was the instigator of the movement which resulted in the complete renovation of the church building, of which he was so proud and which he watched over personally, checking carefully after all meetings. Mr. MacTavish was a minister whose ministry only began in the pulpit and the boundaries of whose church were only limited by the needs of people. Mr. MacTavish is survived by his wife; his daughter, Miss Jean and son Harold, both of Toronto; his son Gerald and his wife, Helen, of Bradford, and three grandchildren, Jean, Marilyn and Betty, of Bradford; also three brothers, Rev. Duncan MacTavish of London, Ont., Mr. James MacTavish of Lucknow, Ont., and Mr. Alex MacTavish of Ripley, Ont., and three sisters, Mrs. H.
Street (Elizabeth) of Kincardine, Mrs. A. H. Johnston (Jean) of Stratford and Mrs. H. Black (Margaret) of Kincardine. He was predeceased by a sister, Mrs. F. Barkwell (Agnes). Mr. MacTavish was a member of Golden Rule Masonic Lodge Number 126, Campbellford, Ont., and he was padre of Bradford Legion, Branch 521. He was secretary of The Simcoe Presbytery and The Toronto Conference Settlement Committee. The very largely attended funeral was held from Bradford United Church on December 23, and was in charge of ministers of Simcoe Presbytery, namely, Rev. A. S. McCuaig, Rev. A. Smith, Rev. R. E. Webster, and Rev. H. Blake, former rector here. Pallbearers were Dr. G. L. Blackwell, Mr. T. Gardner, Mr. C. T. S. Evans, Mr. Harold Tate, Mr. Alex Stephenson and Mr. C. Brittain. Interment was in Aurora Cemetery.